William Shatner, Tammy Grimes & Buddy Ebsen in The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973)

There's nothing like a truly classy horror film... and this is nothing like a truly classy horror film. What it is, is a campy scream-fest that doesn't disappoint if you're looking for some wacky laughs. Alan O'Neill (Roy Thinnes) has dismantled an ancient abby from his wife's property in England and chartered a 747 to take it back home to Long Island. The unscheduled flight has been booked with only 10 passengers, including business man Glen Farlee (Ebsen), Dr. Enkalla (Paul Winfield), defrocked priest Paul Kovalik (Shatner), Jodi, a child of 8 (Mia Bendixsen) and a wing-nut who knows the dark history of the abby and is dead set against it being removed from British soil (Grimes). Once air born, strange things start to happen. In the hold, freezing temperatures set in and on the flight deck the pilot (Chuck Connors) and crew are dealing with a disturbing anomaly - the plane is stationary in the air as if they're facing a 650 mph headwind. This condition continues even when they make a 180 degree turn. As the night progresses things get weirder, including brown bubbling ooze, holes in the floor and seriously freaked out passengers. Will they survive this flight from hell?

This wacky film is not available on DVD, though it's occasionally shown on 3rd and 4th tier cable stations. It's also available in full on YouTube, thanks to a sequential upload by 70sHorrorRealm. Above is part one.

Obscurity factor: 7 (not on DVD, available on YouTube, somewhat known for its camp value)

Tammy Grimes in The Tammy Grimes Show (1966)

Obscurity factor: 9

While not exactly Shakespeare, this show which was pulled off the air after only 4 episodes has gained some luster with age. There's no debating that the situations were daft, but Ms. Grime's presence is charming, particularly because of her phoney persona that has been called "so ridiculously artificial that she just has to be for real," and the sight gags are deftly handled, making for some delightful giggles. Tamantha Ward (Grimes) is an heiress who likes nothing more than spending her inheritance. She has a long suffering uncle who does his best to keep her on a short leash and a twin brother (Dick Sargent, billed as Richard Sargent) who, in the episode below goes on reserve duty with the US Navy. There's a lot of irony to be had in the circumstances surrounding the show without even going into the "gays in the military" thing. Grimes and Sargent were the original choices to play Samantha and Darrin Stephens in Bewitched.

Needless to say this show hasn't made it to DVD. It was shot in color, but the only presence it has on the web now is in black and white. The episode above is uploaded to YouTube by dentelTV1.

Obscurity factor: 9 (only really remembered as one of the shortest runs in TV series history)

Joel Grey & Tammy Grimes in 'Twas The Night Before Christmas 1974

Rankin & Bass were the go-to guys for holiday specials in the 60's and 70's. Their roster of holiday specials are legendary including Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970), The Year Without Santa Claus (1974) and the one that started them all, Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964). Their formula was simple - choose an iconic story, frequently based on a song or holiday legend, and cast a big star from old Hollywood, the theater or music - Burl Ives, Fred Astaire, Shirley Booth. The best known specials feature stop-motion animation, though the one we're concerned with today is drawn animation.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas is based, on the iconic poem "A Visit from St. Nick" by Clement Clarke Moore. It concerns Joshua Trundle, a clockmaker (voiced by Joel Grey, above) and his family and the family of mice that live in his house. Albert, the eldest son of the mouse family (voiced by Tammy Grimes, pictured to the right), in his analytical way, is convinced that Santa is a myth, so he sends Santa a letter telling him so, and signs it "All of Us" which Santa takes to mean the whole town of Junctionville. So Santa decides to skip the town all together. I've always thought that this was the weakest plot point in the story. I don't believe Santa would be that easily offended. He'd just Ho, Ho, Ho, and deliver gifts to the town anyway. I don't think he's in it for the recognition. Anyway, I digress. Mr. Trundle, the clockmaker seeks a commission from the town to make a clock that will welcome Santa on Christmas Eve. He gets the commission and builds the clock, only to have Albert, in his curiosity about how it worked, break it. Will they be able to fix it by Christmas Eve? You'll have to watch and find out!

The entire show has been uploaded to YouTube by aimstaind18 in one, 21 minute segment (I'll never know how people get the clearance to upload videos longer than the proscribed 15... <sigh>). It's a delightful 70's Christmas story and has some really charming original songs in it. There's also a DVD available and it's occasionally shown on ABC Family channel's 25 days of Christmas.

Obscurity factor: 2 (on DVD, occasionally shown on TV, available on YouTube)

Images from Google Images